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ABSTRACT
Edible yams are widely cultivated staple food crops in the tropics, but their production is constrained by a low multiplication ratio, which results in a short supply of Seed Yam Tubers (SYT). The use of High-ratio Propagation Technology (HrPT) such as semi-autotrophic hydroponics (SAH) could enhance the quality and quantity of SYT. SAH uses single or double nodal vine cuttings from tissue culture plantlets or healthy mother plants as planting material, sterilized compost peat materials or cocopeat and formulated nutrient solutions as growth medium. The objective of this present study was to evaluate the effect of different initiationmedia on growth and development of yam (Dioscorea spp.) using semi - autotrophic hydroponics. The study was conducted in the screen house of the Department of Crop Science, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. The study included three initiation media (cocopeat [from coconut husk], sawdust, and rice hull) and two yam species (Dioscorea alata and D. rotundata). The experiment was a 3 × 2 factorial laid out as a completely randomized design with three replications. The results indicated that initiation media were significantly different for days to first emergence. The yam species where significantly different for most characters evaluated. The interaction between initiation media and yam species was significantly different in vine length, number of leaves, leaf breadth and leaf length. Treatment combinations of rice hull + D. alata was observed to be highest for vine length and number of leaves and this was followed by sawdust + D. alata, and sawdust + D. rotundata. Either cocopeat, sawdust and rice hull could be used in sprouting single nodal ccuttings of D. alata and D. rotundata under SAH.
